National Medical Commission expands MBBS capacity by over 13,000 seats for 2026-27

The National Medical Commission has authorized a boost of 13,186 MBBS seats for the 2026-27 admission cycle, lifting the total approved undergraduate medical intake to 1,40,214 seats across 836 colleges, exclusive of Institutes of National Importance. This expansion aims to widen the pool of available medical seats, though the exact distribution will be determined by the forthcoming counselling procedures. Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra receive the highest state-level seat counts, with 14,299, 14,400 and 13,249 seats respectively.

The decision reflects ongoing efforts to address doctor shortages and expand medical education capacity in India. The increase will affect the upcoming admission round, potentially altering competition dynamics for prospective students.